Last Updated on October 11, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Welcome to the official rules for Monikers! This hilarious party game challenges players to describe, guess, and act out names in three exciting rounds. Whether you’re playing with friends or family, this guide will walk you through the setup, gameplay, and strategies to keep the fun going. Get ready to laugh, guess, and outwit your opponents!

buy now!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.

How to Play Monikers

Overview

Monikers is a team-based guessing game played over three increasingly challenging rounds. It’s quick to learn (just 5–10 minutes) and designed for big laughs with friends.

Monikers Setup

Divide into Two Teams
Any number of players can play, but the game works best in groups of 4 or more.
Deal and Select Cards
- Deal 8 cards to each player.
- Everyone secretly picks 5 favorite cards from their hand.
- Combine the selected cards into one shared deck.
- Return the unused cards to the box.

Aim for around 40–50 cards in the deck.

With a large group, deal/choose fewer cards per person.

With a small group, deal/choose more.

Choose a Starting Team
- The team with the best celebrity encounter story goes first.
- Or just pick randomly. Your call.

Monikers party card game box, cards, and hand drawing a card

Monikers Gameplay

The game is played in three rounds using the same deck of cards each time. Teams take turns trying to guess as many cards as possible during a timed turn.

Taking a Turn

One team member gives the clues; the rest of their team guesses.
You get 60 seconds per turn (or 30–45 seconds for groups of 10+).
No limit on guesses.
Skipping cards is allowed and encouraged!
Skipped cards are reshuffled back into the deck after the turn.
Keep any correctly guessed cards for scoring.
Rotate clue-givers so everyone gets a turn before repeating.

A round ends when all cards in the deck have been guessed.

After the round:

Tally each team’s score (sum of point values from guessed cards).
Write it down.
Shuffle all cards back together to begin the next round.
The team with the lower score starts the next round.

Round Restrictions

Each round adds a new limitation on how clues can be given:

Round 1 – Say Anything

Use any words, sounds, or gestures—except:

No saying the name (or any part of it).
Don’t read the clue text aloud.
If you slip and say the name, you must skip that card.

Round 2 – One Word Only

Give clues using just one word (repeatable).

No sounds or gestures allowed.
The word cannot include the name or clue text.

Round 3 – Charades

No words. Just act it out!

Sound effects are allowed.

Winning Monikers

After all three rounds, the team with the highest total score wins.

Or don’t keep score at all. It’s perfectly fine to play just for fun—Monikers works great either way.

Group of six young diverse friends playing monikers party card game on a living room table. Snacks, popcorn, glasses and cookies on the table. laughing and having a fun time

Fun Monikers Variations

Once you’ve got the basic rules down, try these variations to add a new twist to your game night.

1. The “Only One Word” Round

Instead of allowing full phrases, a player can only use one word to describe each card in Round 2 (the one-word round). This is a great way to add more of a challenge and forces players to be extra clever. It also speeds up the game, so it’s a good option if you’re short on time.

2. All-Play Monikers

Instead of one person from a team guessing, have everyone guess at the same time. The person giving clues still tries to get their own team to shout out the correct answer first, but it can be fun (and chaotic!) to have everyone involved in the guessing. You can award a point to the first team to correctly guess, or just play this way for fun.

3. Two Truths and a Lie

For a more challenging Round 1 (the “explain it any way you want” round), the clue-giver must give three “facts” about the card, one of which is a lie. Their team must not only guess the card but also identify the lie. This variation is best for people who are already familiar with the cards in the game.

4. Themed Rounds

Before you start, agree on a theme for each round. For example:

Round 1: The “Movie Quotes” Round – Clue-givers must only use movie quotes to describe the cards.
Round 2: The “Sound Effects” Round – Clue-givers can only use sounds, no words.
Round 3: The “Dance Moves” Round – Clue-givers can only use body movements.

You can get as creative as you want with these!

Monikers FAQ

How many cards should we deal at the beginning of the game?

At the beginning of the game, shuffle the deck and deal cards so that each team has an equal share. For a big group, you may choose to deal fewer cards per player to keep rounds manageable and fast-paced.

How many guesses does each team get per turn?

Teams can guess as many times as they like until they either correctly identify the card or pass. Play continues in clockwise order, moving to the next team once a turn is over.

How is the lowest score determined?

After the entire game, the team with the lowest score wins, as the goal is to accumulate the fewest points possible through clever clues and correct guesses.

Can Monikers be played with multiple teams?

Yes! Monikers works well as a multi-team game. Teams take turns in clockwise order, ensuring each group gets a fair chance to guess and earn points.

How do we handle the total number of cards for large groups?

For big groups, consider splitting the deck or dealing fewer cards per player. This helps maintain the pace of the game and keeps everyone engaged.

What happens when we reach the top of the deck?

When you reach the top of the deck, the round ends. Collect the cards, shuffle them back in for the next round, or use them to track scoring for a fun variant.

Are there any fun variants to change gameplay?

Yes! You can try variants like giving the best story for a clue, limiting the number of guesses, or playing with multi-team rotations to mix up strategy and creativity.

Can teammates give extra hints or explanations?

Teammates must follow the restrictions for the round. Some rounds only allow single-word clues or gestures, while others may allow more detailed hints.

How does the allotted time affect gameplay?

Each turn should follow the allotted time to keep the game moving. Using a timer ensures fair play and adds excitement, especially in fast-paced rounds.

How is a person’s identity revealed?

The identity of the card is revealed when a teammate correctly guesses it. Cards are then set aside for scoring and may return in extra rounds for additional fun or strategy.

What are extra rounds, and when are they used?

Extra rounds occur after all cards have been played once. They allow players to guess the same cards under new restrictions or with fewer clues, adding challenge and variety to the game.

Are there restrictions on clues during certain rounds?

Yes. Each round may impose specific restrictions on how teammates can give clues—for example, limiting speech to one word, gestures only, or no verbal hints.

Final Notes

All players should take turns being the clue-giver.
Keep it fast, silly, and flexible.
For alternative modes and rule clarifications, check the reverse of the rule sheet or improvise something that works for your group.

Remember: It’s more important to enjoy the game than to follow every rule to the letter.

Monikers is a perfect game for bringing laughter and excitement to your next game night. So gather your friends, unleash your creativity, and see who can guess the most Monikers!